Image source: The Motley Fool.TTEC Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTEC)TTEC Holdings, Inc. (TTEC) Q4 2017 Earnings Conference Call TranscriptMarch 13, 2018, 8:30 a.m. ETContents:Prepared RemarksQuestions and AnswersCall ParticipantsPrepared Remarks:OperatorThank you all for standing by and welcome to the TTEC's Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2017 Earnings Conference Call. I would like to remind all parties that you will be in a listen-only mode until the question and answer session. This call is being recorded at the request of TTEC. I would now like to turn the call over to Mr. Paul Miller, TTEC Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Investor Relations Officer. Thank you, sir, you may now begin.Paul Miller -- Senior Vice President, Treasurer, and Investor Relations OfficerGood morning and thank you for joining us today. TTEC is hosting this call to discuss its fourth quarter, and inform you of the financial results for the periods ended December 31, 2017. Participating on today's call are, Ken Tuchman, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Regina Paolillo, our Chief Financial and Administrative Officer.Yesterday, TTEC issued a press release announcing its financial results. While this call will reflect items discussed within that documents, we encourage all listeners to read our Annual Report on Form 10-K. Before we begin, I want to remind you that matters discussed in today's call may include forward-looking statements related to our operating performance, financial goals, and business outlook, which are based on management's current beliefs and assumptions. Please note that these forward-looking statements reflect our opinion as of the date of this call, and we undertake no obligation to revise this information as a result of new that may occur.10 stocks we like better than TeleTech HoldingsWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has Continue Reading

Property taxes are a necessary burden, but they're even more of a headache when they go up without warning. These are some of the factors to blame. Les Masterson, provided by Published 1:15 pm, Monday, February 26, 2018 Photo: Mphillips007/iStock Image 1of/1 CaptionClose Image 1 of 1 Photo: Mphillips007/iStock 5 Common Reasons Why Property Taxes Go Up, No Matter Where You Live 1 / 1 Back to Gallery Homeownership is one of life’s great highlights, but ask homeowners about paying property tax and they'll tell you it's one of their least favorite responsibilities. But as much of a downer as they are, property taxes are vital for funding schools, libraries, police departments, fire departments, and public works like roads and parks. Savvy homeowners and prudent buyers are probably aware of the property tax rates in their area, but they may not understand the factors that can drive their property tax rates up. We're here to help! (With the understanding part, that is.) So when tax season rolls around, if you find yourself having to shell out more than you did last year, one of these five reasons might be to blame. 1. Home improvements Recommended Video: Now Playing: The UK Prime Minister says she wants all EU citizens lawfully living in Britain to remain after Brexit in 2019. Theresa May is also promising a streamlined system for them to register to be able to stay. "They have made a huge contribution to our country, that's why we want them and their families to stay. I am absolutely clear that EU citizens living lawfully in the UK today will be able to stay," May said in parliament. "It is going to be a digital system, it will be streamlined, it will be user-friendly and it will ensure that this is as simple and as easy a process for people as we Continue Reading

Gov. Eric Greitens laid out an $800 million tax cut proposal on Monday, vowing to reduce Missouri’s top income tax rate and taxes on corporations. Under the plan, which Greitens is pitching in a series of campaign-style events around the state — including one Tuesday afternoon in Riverside — the top individual income tax rate would drop to 5.3 percent from 5.9 percent. Any Missourian who earns more than $9,072 annually is in the top income tax bracket. Greitens’ proposal would slash the state’s corporate tax rate by nearly a third, to 4.25 percent from 6.25 percent. It also creates a refundable state tax credit for low-income workers. A tax cut bill passed in 2014 and set to slowly phase in over the next decade is projected to reduce Missouri’s revenues by nearly $250 million. That fact has some Republicans legislators concerned that further cutting taxes could leave Missouri with the same budget shortfalls that plagued Kansas lawmakers for years. The governor’s proposal seeks to soothe some of those concerns and offset the $800 million cost of his tax cuts by eliminating certain incentives for businesses, most notably one that allows retailers to keep a portion of the sales taxes they collect if they pay their taxes on time. The “timely filing discount” cost Missouri $114 million in 2016. Under Greitens’ plan, Missouri would take a step toward collecting sales tax on online transactions by joining the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement. Previous estimates calculated the state could collect between $108 million and $210 million from taxing online sales. The plan would also pare back how much of an individual’s federal tax payments can be deducted from their state income taxes, and would eliminate a program that allows multistate corporations to choose how their taxable income is calculated. Greitens said in a press release that a married couple with two children earning $40,000 would see Continue Reading

0 View Comments After the Colorado Legislature gavels in Wednesday morning, the Gold Dome in Denver will be home to four months of rancorous partisan debate, and just maybe some compromise on roads, schools, the state pension plan and marijuana. But don't count on that last part. In an election year when President Donald Trump's performance and Republican tax cuts will color the national mood, November's election could be the subtext to how the governmental sausage gets made in Colorado this year. In the era of #metoo, sexual harassment allegations loom large over Colorado House Democrats and Senate Republicans, both with members under suspicion, dividing up intraparty loyalties in a building that runs on relationships. Related: Officials plan for growth of electric cars on Colorado roads Five of the 100 members are running for state treasurer, and though no current legislators are running for governor, nine Republicans and nine Democrats hoping to lead their party's ticket means plenty of lawmakers have rooting interests. Three legislators dropped out of the General Assembly recently - two to work for the Trump administration and one, Rep. Diane Mitsch Bush, the Democratic chair of the House Transportation Committee, to run for Congress. And last week, Sen. Cheri Jahn of Wheat Ridge said she's no longer a Democrat but will finish her term as unaffiliated. The biggest challenge for the new session might be whether these fractured parties can pull themselves together to make headway on the issues facing everyday Coloradans. If history is any guide - history in much better times - they won't. For example, last year lawmakers almost universally agreed that transportation was their top priority. House Speaker Crisanta Duran, a Democrat from Denver, and Senate President Kevin Grantham, a Republican from Cañon City, co-sponsored a bill to let voters decide on a sales tax increase for roads and transit. Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee killed that Continue Reading

0 View Comments After the Colorado Legislature gavels in Wednesday morning, the Gold Dome in Denver will be home to four months of rancorous partisan debate, and just maybe some compromise on roads, schools, the state pension plan and marijuana. But don't count on that last part. In an election year when President Donald Trump's performance and Republican tax cuts will color the national mood, November's election could be the subtext to how the governmental sausage gets made in Colorado this year. In the era of #metoo, sexual harassment allegations loom large over Colorado House Democrats and Senate Republicans, both with members under suspicion, dividing up intraparty loyalties in a building that runs on relationships. Related: Officials plan for growth of electric cars on Colorado roads Five of the 100 members are running for state treasurer, and though no current legislators are running for governor, nine Republicans and nine Democrats hoping to lead their party's ticket means plenty of lawmakers have rooting interests. Three legislators dropped out of the General Assembly recently - two to work for the Trump administration and one, Rep. Diane Mitsch Bush, the Democratic chair of the House Transportation Committee, to run for Congress. And last week, Sen. Cheri Jahn of Wheat Ridge said she's no longer a Democrat but will finish her term as unaffiliated. The biggest challenge for the new session might be whether these fractured parties can pull themselves together to make headway on the issues facing everyday Coloradans. If history is any guide - history in much better times - they won't. For example, last year lawmakers almost universally agreed that transportation was their top priority. House Speaker Crisanta Duran, a Democrat from Denver, and Senate President Kevin Grantham, a Republican from Cañon City, co-sponsored a bill to let voters decide on a sales tax increase for roads and transit. Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee killed that Continue Reading

It's become an annual New Year's tradition at the Daily Herald to ask our communiities' mayors and village presidents to share their thoughts on their towns' successes of the past year. Here's what Northwest suburban leaders had to say about 2017. Tom Hayes, Tom Hayes A very busy and productive 2017 was capped by a number of special holiday events that reflected the family focus of our community, the vibrancy of our business climate, and our volunteer spirit. Highlights for the year included approval of a villagewide Stormwater Improvement Plan, commencement and substantial progress on the new police station project, the opening of multiple new restaurant/entertainment venues, the fire department's achievement of an Insurance Services Office Class 1 rating, the police department's Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies recertification, and the restructuring of village services by joining intergovernmental cooperatives to increase service levels and save money. Karen Darch, Karen Darch One particular success of 2017, which makes us proud to be in Barrington, is the intergovernmental cooperative spirit in working for the public good exhibited in the village of Barrington and the Barrington Park District's "land swap" of Miller Park and Meinhard Park, allowing the village to further address stormwater management issues and the park district to continue to provide excellent recreational opportunities for residents. Kevin Wallace, Kevin Wallace This past year, the village board worked to streamline our site approval process and speed development in Bartlett. And we are very encouraged by the resulting commercial and industrial investment in the village, especially at Brewster Creek Business Park. Nearly 1 million square feet of new construction was added at the business park this year. Brewster Creek is currently home to 90 businesses in 39 buildings and includes an emerging food cluster, high-precision manufacturing firms and Continue Reading

It has been a big year for Knoxville’s business community, with major deals, historic redevelopments and expansion announcements.Following are the 10 most significant business stories the Knoxville News Sentinel covered in 2017. 10. Hello OlliKnoxville-based Local Motors announced in April that the city will be a test site for its self-driving vehicles, specifically its electric trolley, Olli.Visit Knoxville will own two Ollis — one for use on downtown streets, one as a backup. Olli is expected to be on the road in 2018. At least at first, it will have an on-board operator. More: Local Motors to produce Olli self-driving vehicle in Knoxville The trolley will probably run between fixed points for conventions or tourism events, but may eventually have a fixed route, according to Kim Bumpas of Visit Knoxville.Olli seats about a dozen; according to Local Motors, it can carry up to 2,200 pounds, has a range of 32.4 miles and a maximum speed of 25 mph.Parts of the trolley are 3D-printed. As autonomous vehicle use becomes more widespread, Olli users may eventually use the Modally app to book rides. 9. Mountain luxuryBlackberry Farm announced in August it will open a new resort called Blackberry Mountain, built on 2,800 acres of a 5,200-acre tract on Chilhowee Mountain.The Relais & Chateau property will include two restaurants, the Firetower and Three Sisters, held to the same standards as Blackberry Farm itself. The resort will have six cabins, 13 cottages and multi-bedroom homes. More: Blackberry Farm: New Blackberry Mountain resort to be built in Walland Guests will be able to participate in tree climbing, mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing, foraging, fly fishing, paddle sports, sporting clays and horseback riding. They will have access to a spa, a yoga studio, a spin studio, a fitness room and fitness classes, a gymnasium and a basketball court. An infinity edge pool will overlook the mountain range. 8. Refreshed Continue Reading

Audio: Listen to this story. To hear more feature stories, download the Audm app for your iPhone. Up the Estonian coast, a five-lane highway bends with the path of the sea, then breaks inland, leaving cars to follow a thin road toward the houses at the water’s edge. There is a gated community here, but it is not the usual kind. The gate is low—a picket fence—as if to prevent the dunes from riding up into the street. The entrance is blocked by a railroad-crossing arm, not so much to keep out strangers as to make sure they come with intent. Beyond the gate, there is a schoolhouse, and a few homes line a narrow drive. From Tallinn, Estonia’s capital, you arrive dazed: trees trace the highway, and the cars go fast, as if to get in front of something that no one can see. Within this gated community lives a man, his family, and one vision of the future. Taavi Kotka, who spent four years as Estonia’s chief information officer, is one of the leading public faces of a project known as e-Estonia: a coördinated governmental effort to transform the country from a state into a digital society. E-Estonia is the most ambitious project in technological statecraft today, for it includes all members of the government, and alters citizens’ daily lives. The normal services that government is involved with—legislation, voting, education, justice, health care, banking, taxes, policing, and so on—have been digitally linked across one platform, wiring up the nation. A lawn outside Kotka’s large house was being trimmed by a small robot, wheeling itself forward and nibbling the grass. “Everything here is robots,” Kotka said. “Robots here, robots there.” He sometimes felt that the lawnmower had a soul. “At parties, it gets close to people,” he explained. A curious wind was sucking in a thick fog from the water, and Kotka led me inside. His study was cluttered, with a long table bearing a chessboard Continue Reading

With the campaigns for New Jersey’s June 6 primaries entering their final phase, the candidates with the money to spend on TV time will be hitting you over the head with their simple messages about why they, and not their opponent(s), are worthy of your vote. To help you get beyond the sound bites, we have prepared thumbnail summaries of the main candidates’ positions on several key issues, culled from their websites, Project Vote Smart, our Facebook Live interviews with them and other sources. We hope it will help you make a more informed vote. Republican candidates’ positions on issues. Democratic candidates:Phil Murphy, 59, is a former Goldman Sachs executive and former ambassador to Germany. He lives in Middletown.Ray Lesniak, 71, a state senator from Elizabeth, is the longest-serving member of the Legislature (36 years). He recently retired from the law firm he founded, Weiner-Lesniak. He lives in Elizabeth.Jim Johnson, 56, is an attorney. He is a former federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York and served in several senior positions within the U.S. Department of the Treasury in the Clinton administration. He lives in Montclair.John Wisniewski, 54, is an attorney and an assemblyman from Middlesex County. He lives in Sayreville. TAXESJohnson: To reduce residential property taxes, pass constitutional amendment to allow large business and commercial property to be taxed at a higher rate than residential property .... seek municipal consolidation and shared services agreements .... reform laws governing foreclosures, which lower the value of nearby houses .... support “Senior Freeze” and “Homestead” credits.Lesniak: Reduce property taxes for 443,300 seniors and citizens with disabilities by $1,000 and by $800 for 209,500 homeowners earning up to $75,000 by doubling state appropriation for property tax reduction program from $322.5 million to $645 million. Can be accomplished by closing corporate tax Continue Reading

Editor's note: This story originally published in The Journal News on Jan. 13, 2013.Thirty-five years ago when Bill and Carol Betwarda moved into their modern, creek-side home in Greenburgh, their taxes totaled maybe $3,000.By the time Carol Betwarda took a good, hard look at the bill a couple of years ago, it had grown to more than $20,000."My wife, she said, 'Honey, this is getting outrageous,'" Bill Betwarda said recently.That set Betwarda on a quest to bring down his bill, starting with challenging his tax assessment. Then he began attending meetings and pushing officials from some of the six governments and districts that tap into his property taxes to consider changes to make them more efficient, even drastic moves like merging the school district or fire district with their neighbors.But he found little interest from the boards and, at least at the fire district, only a handful of people engaged enough to come to the meetings. People seem to accept things as they are, he said. But it's pushing him to his limit."I don't want to stay here," Betwarda said. "I begged my wife. I said, 'We should move to South Carolina.'"With the median property-tax bill in Westchester hitting $10,000 last fall — the highest in the nation, with Rockland and Putnam close behind — Betwarda is not the only one feeling the pressure.Politicians often talk about the region's status as among the highest taxed in the country and promise to rein in bills through hard choices and squeezing every budget dollar. But only a few communities are looking at how the structure of government itself drives up costs in New York.The state has one of the most complex, layered systems of local government in the nation, and that builds in duplication of services and jobs that must be paid for through tax dollars. Consolidation done right can save individual taxpayers hundreds and thousands of dollars a year — and entire towns millions over time — but it remains a hard sell in the Continue Reading